Personality Colors are a tool, NOT a crutch
I love to introduce people to the personality colors concept and watch their reactions: they nod as they recognize themselves. Then, I can see the wheels in their heads turning, as they think about their teammates, supervisor, even their family members, and try to place them into a color category.
The personality colors are a great introduction to seeing things from another person’s perspective. It’s a great way to verbalize characteristics of your own personality (which you may not have been able to do before) and to recognize the differences between your thought process and that of others.
However, I have heard of people using their personality color as a crutch. This is NOT the intended use of the personality color. It is not there for you to use it to attempt to explain away improper behavior.
For example, you may be the very essence of a Green (logical, loner, independent), but this does not give you the right to be rude to anyone. The point of the personality color exercise is to realize how OTHERS want to be treated, not just how you like to be approached.
Just because you are a Red (decisive, impulsive, risky), you don’t have the right to roll over everyone else in the group and not allow others to share their ideas because you spoke up first. Reds must learn to curb their impulse to control the group and wait for others to contribute.
Yellows (dutiful, introvert, flighter), you must learn to speak up for yourselves. You have a lot of value in a group, as you are a natural team player. But you cannot allow reds and greens to steamroll over you when you know you’re right.
And finally, Blues (empathetic, flexible, idealistic), when the rest of the group doesn’t agree with you and can’t see the emotional pull you’re feeling toward a decision, you must back up and try to see the logic of the others’ positions. You will be the one to sell the idea to the rest of the world – therefore you must find harmony in the decision.
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